thoughts, words, or actions in this life or in a past life. Practi- tioners should strive to understand Hindu beliefs because this is critical to delivering nutrition counseling in a respectful manner and to eliciting understanding and acceptance. To better understand a person’s spiritual beliefs and
establish a relationship of connectedness and trust, practi- tioners can consider using a spiritual assessment tool, such as the FICA Spiritual History Tool41 to Spiritual Assessment.42
or the HOPE Approach Determine how the person’s
belief systems can be integrated into the health encounter. For example, the laws of karma and rebirth can motivate behavior that can improve health and decrease anxiety asso- ciated with terminal illnesses. Tis can lay the foundation for establishing trust and rapport-building in the long term and improve outcomes with nutrition and health interventions.
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Nutrition counseling of people identifying as Hindu depends heavily on individualized assessment and not on assumptions about their religious heritage and involvement. Refer to Tips and Strategies for Nutrition Counseling and Care of People Practicing Hinduism on the next page. Chapter 2 addresses general guiding principles for culturally sensitive nutrition assessment, communication, and counseling.